JEFF TURNER
The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come.” What does this tell us about the transformation that occurs through faith in Jesus?
Some may mistakenly believe that God’s aim is to make us better versions of ourselves—better partners, employees, or neighbours. However, the purpose of the Gospel is far greater than self-improvement. Jesus did not sacrifice His life merely to fix what was broken. Instead, He died to give us an entirely new life.
The promise of redemption isn’t about becoming slightly better than before. It’s about becoming something completely new—something we could never achieve on our own. Though we may appear unchanged outwardly, the grace of Christ works deeply within, bringing a radical transformation.
As this new life grows, others should not merely see a better version of us; they should see Christ Himself reflected in how we live. This is the true power of the Gospel—a total renewal of our being through Him.
Read the context:
The Temporal and Eternal – 2 Corinthians 5 NASB:
For we know that if our earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed, in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. 4 For indeed, we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a pledge.
6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also well known in your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we have lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.
16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (NASB)
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